Fire-escape ladder



ion.,

JOS. H. GRIMSLEY, OF NEW LEXINGTON, OHIO.

FIRE-ESCAPE LADDER.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 20,875, dated July 13, 1858.

To all whom it may concern.' y

Be it known that I, JOSEPH H. GRiMsLEY, of the incorporated village of New Lexington, in Perry county, State of Ohio, have invented a new and improved mode of constructing ladders for the purpose of enabling persons to escape from the upper stories of buildings when egress by the ordinary avenues has been cut off by lire; and I do hereby declare that the following' is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing ladders with sides of metallic wires or other incombustible materials, in joints or parts connected by joints in such manner that they may be folded up into small compass, or let out for use, at pleasure. The upper end of the ladder is so constructed that it may be immediately made fast to the inside wall or window frame of a building and the whole of the ladder thrown out and suspended by such fastening. At about four feet from the lower end of the ladder a leather strap is fastened upon the side pieces, by means of which a person Vmay be tightly buckled to the ladder and let downthe rounds or steps answering for handholds by which to letthe ladder gradually down. Each round or step of the ladder has axles turned at each end, on which, at proper' intervals, wheels or flanges are secured by linch pins or nuts. These wheels or flanges turn on the axles with ease and are designed to keep the ladder far enough out from the wall to prevent the hands and feet from touching and at the same time to keep the ladder from swaying or lodging on any projections of the building.

For the purpose of enabling others to construct or make use of my invention I will describe the mode of making and using the same.

A number of rounds or steps of wood or other material are prepared in number, length, and diameter to suit the purpose. These steps are turned with axles at each end on which are placed wheels or flanges of any desired diameter, secured, as at Figure l. The steps have also a groove turned vnear each end around and in which the sides of the ladder pass. A single wire, or a number of small wires bound together, are drawn around the groove in such manner as to include the end of another wire, as at c, o, o, o, 0, Fig. 2, or to include a small ring or link; the other end of the wire is bent into an eye to be vfastened to the wire above or into the ring or link as the case may be thus making a joint at each step or round of the ladder and allowing the whole to be folded up, when not in use, as shown in Fig. 3.

Between the fourth and fifth step from thel bottom (where the steps are placed one foot apart) a broad strong leathern, or other, st-rap is fastened on the sides and arranged so as to be easily fastened together, with a buckle, or otherwise, as at D, D, Fig. 2. The upper end of the ladder terminates in an iron or other incombustbe ring as at g Fig. 2, which ring may be made fast on or to any arrangement for that purpose inside the building.

To use the ladder in case of fire or other emergency, it is only necessary to have the upper end secured and then unfold and throw out of the window, door, or other aperture, the whole ladder. The flanges or wheels rest against the wall of the building and keep the ladder steady and far enough out from the wall to enable a person to descend with comparative ease and safety.

Should it be desirable to use the ladder to rescue the sick, infirm, 0r any one too timid to safely descend alone the feet may be placed on the lowest step and the straps D D Fig. 2 buckled tightly around the body under the arms. When thus secured the person may be put out the window and safely lowered to the ground by any one of ordinary strengththe wheels or flanges keeping the person thus lowered from all danger of having hands and feet bruised or broken by coming in contact with the wall.

What I claim as my invention, and wish to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The wheels turning on the axles at the ends of the rungs or steps for the purpose (above set forth) of providing a space between the ladder and the wall for the feet and hands of the individual when descending-to enable and aid the ladder to reach the groundsaid wheels being placed at the axle at the ends of the rungs especially for this important purpose and object viz: that with the wheels so placed, it is of no consequence or difference which side of the ladder is uppermost When thrown out-makng no 1 to rescue the aged, inrm, young, and those dierence which side of the same rests too timid to descend alone, by lowering them to the ground by the hand.

J. H. GRIMSLEY.

against the Wall.

2. Also the straps which placed substan- 5 tally as set forth, combined With a ladder Witnesses:

of the necessary strength and Weight as JOHN H. KELLY, small, enables a person of ordinary strength I. S. GATLEY. 

